Longer School Days and More School Hours

President Obama declared that, “challenges of a new century demand more time in a classroom”. American students are not competitive with students in other countries around the world when it comes to math, science, and languages.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan echoes, “Our school calendar is based upon the agrarian economy and not too many of our kids are working in the fields today”. Use to be that crops were harvested in the summer where every available person was needed to assist. Technology, corporate farming, and job opportunities in the cities no longer requires manual labor yet schools still close for more than three months in the summer time.

Students in most other countries spend 25% to 30% more time at school that American students. Yet summer school programs have expanded and so have after school programs in the USA. Taken those hours and formalize it will put the US school calendar on par with most. It will also serve a social need for children with working parents.

The US only requires 180 school days compared to most Asian school days of 190 to 201 days. A current three-year experiment with longer schools days in certain areas shows promising results in academic performance. A Brooking Institution study looked at math scores in countries that added math instruction time. Scores rose significantly, especially in countries that added minutes to the day rather than days to the year.

A group of 82 charter schools across the country that is known as KIPP go to school from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm daily; every other Saturday; and for three weeks in the summer. The program is rich with arts, music, and physical activity in addition to the core subjects. They outperform every public school district in which they operate at 8th grade level on state tests.

Almost 90% of all public schools receive funding for free and reduced lunches in the USA. That makes poor children almost totally dependent on their learning experience at school. A long summer break results in poorer performance when school starts as very little academic reinforcement takes place outside of the school.

No doubt that longer school days or school years will cost money. As is, most public school teachers are only paid for eight to nine months of the year. But if other countries can do it, so can we.

I think back to my schools years in South Africa. Our summer break was just over four weeks – the longest of four school holidays. We had a winter break of three weeks and two, one week ‘spring breaks’. School stared at 8:00 am and ended at 2:00 pm. On Tuesdays and Thursdays were compulsory sports practice till 4:30 pm. Those not participating in sport would spend time in a library or classroom. Wednesdays were interschool competitions, pending on the seasonal sports of the day. Friday was “early release day” at 2:00 pm – a regular school day. Saturdays were competition again and everyone was expected to attend and cheer for the school team. We did wear uniforms; we were physically punished; and had strict hair and jewelry rules. Teachers were paid year round and had to coach to get a job – irrespective of the area of specialty. Those who did not coach took responsibility for study hall during sports hours. It seemed to work well as more than 1 million products of the apartheid school system are now being productive and making their mark in countries around the world.

The Cost of Smoking

Ever tried to quit smoking? Ask any quitter: it is not easy. And purposefully so. Addiction comes quickly. New research shows that nicotine triggers addictive behavior in the brain within two days of usage! Even smokers of relatively few cigarettes have withdrawal symptoms when deprived of nicotine.

According to National Geographic, US tobacco companies, between 1998 and 2004, have increased the amount of nicotine delivered with each puff by 11%. Amazing. No wonder so many people try over and over to stop this dangerous habit.

Some statistics that might not be known:

1. 1 in 5 adults smoke in the USA (almost 50 million)
2. 1 in 5 deaths in the USA are caused by smoking (almost half a million per year)
3. 19.2 million smokers try to quite for at least one day
4. Only 5% stays tobacco free for 3 to 12 months

What happens if you stay smoke-free for one year? Risk of coronary disease is cut in half!

What happens if you stay smoke free for 10 years? Risk of lung cancer drops by as much as half!

Needless to say, years of anti-tobacco education and warnings had limited success. Tobacco prices have increased to exceptional levels. This might have a positive impact. Sadly, women smokers have increased compared to males. There is still a battle to fight.

PE vs PA: Fighting Obesity

Some quick facts that is true to America and many other nations:

• The percentage of overweight young people has more than tripled since 1980 (CDC)

• Sen. Tom Harkin, “This young generation will be the first generation in American history, that will have a shorter lifespan than their parents.”

• Over 12.5 million US children and adolescents are considered overweight (CDC/NHANES Survey 2004

• Tow-thirds of all high school students DO NOT get 60 minutes of daily physical activity (CDC / Youth Health Risk Behavior Survey, 2005)

Who are the major players to promote and advocate physical activity:

NASPE (National Association for Sports and Physical Education) and AAHPERD (American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance) provide the following resources for quality programs and curricula:

• National Standards for Physical Education
• National Standards for Beginning Teachers
• National Standards for Sports Coaches
• Four journals published throughout the year
• NASPE News newsletter
  
  What is the difference between physical education and physical activity? Are they interchangeable as many students get their daily physical activity from physical education programs?
  
  The main difference is that physical education is based on a sequence of learning: knowledge, motor skills, and social skills taking place in a safe and supportive environment.
  

Physical activity is just that – being active, engaged in movement, with a high fun factor in a recreational atmosphere. NASPE recommends that school-age students accumulate at least 60 minutes and up to several hours of physical activity per day – while avoiding prolonged inactivity.

Physical education on the other hand creates an opportunity to learn in instructional periods. The recommended minimum amount is 150 minutes per week for elementary students and 225 minutes per week for middle and high school students. The emphasis is on learning and practice skills with continuous assessment.

Problem is, physical education is disappearing from schools. Budget cuts and emphasis on other subject matter has diminished the role and importance - not to mention funding - for quality physical education programs. Pangrazi et al., already proven that more physical activity takes place outside of school in three continents than in PE classes. It would be OK if the amount of activity was substantive. Its not.

The solution to these stunning statistics is every one's problem. Obviously we all need to support dedicated physical education professionals. We can encourage each student to participate in one sport a year at competitive level. We can walk a bit more when parking our cars. We can support funding by writing to political representatives. We can half portion sizes - take some home for a second meal. We can limit screen time for youngsters and come up with incentives for activity. We can set expectations in our homes, schools, and communities.

Overweight and obesity is a huge part of the health care and health insurance debate. It increase cost and places a premium on services.

The sad truth is that it can be prevented.

Be Active. Be Safe.

Michael Cordier

Introduction

As blogs go, starting one is easy. Adding good content is a bit more challenging. Have someone read it is a thrill. Having someone respond is the ultimate!

This blog is formed with several goals in mind:

• To discuss all things possible about being physical. Hence the one part of the blog name: "Physic"


• To discuss all things technical that relates to being physical. As in "Tech", the second part of the blog name

The foundation of discussions are rooted in the interest and knowledge of:

- physical education

- physical activity

- wellness

- fitness

- health education

- safety

- prevention

Each of these topics are associated with old and new technologies to measure, record, evaluate, or prescribe. The intention is to discuss and review industry positions, research materials, and viewpoints related to our core topics.

We do not live in an encapsulated environment. We are part of a global community. What happens in other parts of the world do impact us in one way or another. We can all learn from each other as is evident in the current health care discussion where programs fom other countries are investigated. Therefore this blog will expand its scope to include international developmenst in our core topics.

This blog will promote certain products or services from time to time. All such promotions will be strongly vetted by the author. Certain affiliate programs will apply as well. This is to expose readers to possible discounts or availability through relationships with providers.

Through our consulting agency we might be involved in some of the issues, programs, services, or equipment that will be discussed or promoted. The hope is that the expertise provides on these topics will more than make up to prevent this site becoming an infomercial.

Sales related issues will be covered as well. Thousands of sales professionals service the industries that are mentioned. It is ony fair that 'food-for-though' is delievred to these experts as well.

Stay healthy and be safe.

Michael Cordier